Brussels - The European Commission decided to impose mandatory testing for unauthorised GMOs in all imports of American long grain rice.
The decision follows the lack of agreement by the United States authorities to a common sampling and testing protocol which would ensure a high level of consistency and accuracy in the tests for the unauthorised GM rice LLRICE601, known also as “Liberty Link Rice”, in consignments to the European Union.
The measures were taken in response to findings four weeks ago of LLRICE601 in shipments of U.S. long grain rice which had been certified as free from this unauthorised GMO.
Despite extensive discussions between the European Union and the United States, both sides were unable to agree on the proposed protocol.
The American long grain rice imports will continue to be subject to the certification requirements imposed when LLRICE601 was first reported to be present in American rice in August this year.
In addition to the certification requirements, all consignments of American long grain rice will also be sampled and tested at the point of entry to the European Union by the member states. The costs of testing will be born by exporters.
The European Union started to step up controls on American rice in August this year, after Dutch officials found an unauthorised genetically modified variety in shipments that arrived in the port of Rotterdam. There were also other shipments found in the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy.
The counter tests will also take into account French authorities’ recent finding of another unauthorised GMO LLRICE62 in United States rice.
"Only if the counter-tests confirm the absence of LLRICE601, or any other unauthorised GMO, will (the shipment) be released", said Philip Tod, the Commission's spokesman for health and consumer issues. He said further, that the issue was not so much about GMO variety posing a threat to public health. "This is an unauthorised GMO which has not been evaluated and authorised in the European Union."
It should be underlined that no biotech rice is allowed to be grown, sold or marketed on the territory of European Union member states.
The new rules will go in effect within days.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report
The decision follows the lack of agreement by the United States authorities to a common sampling and testing protocol which would ensure a high level of consistency and accuracy in the tests for the unauthorised GM rice LLRICE601, known also as “Liberty Link Rice”, in consignments to the European Union.
The measures were taken in response to findings four weeks ago of LLRICE601 in shipments of U.S. long grain rice which had been certified as free from this unauthorised GMO.
Despite extensive discussions between the European Union and the United States, both sides were unable to agree on the proposed protocol.
The American long grain rice imports will continue to be subject to the certification requirements imposed when LLRICE601 was first reported to be present in American rice in August this year.
In addition to the certification requirements, all consignments of American long grain rice will also be sampled and tested at the point of entry to the European Union by the member states. The costs of testing will be born by exporters.
The European Union started to step up controls on American rice in August this year, after Dutch officials found an unauthorised genetically modified variety in shipments that arrived in the port of Rotterdam. There were also other shipments found in the Netherlands, Belgium and Italy.
The counter tests will also take into account French authorities’ recent finding of another unauthorised GMO LLRICE62 in United States rice.
"Only if the counter-tests confirm the absence of LLRICE601, or any other unauthorised GMO, will (the shipment) be released", said Philip Tod, the Commission's spokesman for health and consumer issues. He said further, that the issue was not so much about GMO variety posing a threat to public health. "This is an unauthorised GMO which has not been evaluated and authorised in the European Union."
It should be underlined that no biotech rice is allowed to be grown, sold or marketed on the territory of European Union member states.
The new rules will go in effect within days.
Israel Rafalovich
U.N. OBSERVER & International Report